14:55 Kelso

Saturday 28 February 2026

All13:1013:4014:1514:5515:3016:0016:3517:10

bet365 Morebattle Hurdle (Handicap) (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 2 | 2m 51y | 17 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Patrick M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: W Durkan| OR: 137| D

Useful on the Flat for William Haggas and quickly translated that ability to hurdles last winter. Better effort in handicaps this time round when fifth of 17 at Leopardstown (2m, good) over Christmas. Remains unexposed in this sphere.

Form: 130-5

Cracking Rhapsody⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 136| CD

13/2

Excellent servant to connections who is seeking a hat-trick of wins in this race. Also landed last year's Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr. Yet to fire this season but this has presumably been the target again. A bold show would come as no surprise.

Form: 171-066

Jet To Vegas^t⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 135| BF| C| DWS

12/1

Won the Grade 2 Premier novice on this card 12 months ago. Useful efforts in defeat over fences this season and returns from a wind operation with his stable back in better form after being quiet in midwinter. Interesting contender back hurdling.

Form: 114-226

Hamlet's Night¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: James Owen| OR: 134| D

11/2

Yet another success story for this yard, winning maiden/novice hurdles in September before showing even better form in defeat later in the autumn. Back from a break to win on AW Flat last week. Has to enter calculations.

Form: 21122

Serious Challenge⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 132| D

9/1

Borderline smart on the Flat in Ireland and progressive over hurdles when rattling off a hat-trick in maiden/novice company last season. Excuses first 2 starts this term and firmly back on the up with 2m Haydock handicap success just after Christmas. High on the shortlist.

Form: 114-4P1

Hot Fuss^v⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: David Bass| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 130| D

8/1

Useful on Flat and similar standard over hurdles, gaining some reward for some fine efforts in handicaps when bagging a valuable prize at Windsor (2m, soft) last month. Likely to give it his usual good shot.

Form: 44-6241

Captain Hugo²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 129| D

10/1

Created a good impression when making a winning hurdle debut at Newbury (2m) in November. Couldn't live with an exciting prospect at Aintree next time but back to winning ways in Haydock novice over Christmas. Going well when fell 3 out at Musselburgh latest. Handicap debut.

Form: 2-1121F

Spectacularsunrise⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128| CD

5/1

Imposing sort who has taken really well to hurdling, winning Bangor novice before making a mockery of an opening mark of 122 over C&D in December. Creditable 8¾ lengths sixth of 14 to Hot Fuss in valuable handicap at Windsor (2m, soft) 6 weeks ago. Remains relatively unexposed.

Form: 4-31126

Serious Operator^t⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: P W Wadge| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 127| C

28/1

Gradually worked his way back to form this autumn and he duly capitalised on a sliding mark in 6-runner handicap at Newcastle (2½m) in November. Good second of 8 at Aintree (2½m again) since but this is his first ever start over 2m.

Form: 06-4312

Wise Eagle²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Ryan Mania| T: A Nicol| OR: 126| D

16/1

Useful on the Flat and over hurdles. Creditable third of 10 in Scottish County Hurdle at Musselburgh (2m, good to soft) 4 weeks ago. Capable of being very competitive in a race like this.

Form: 2/112-63

Lucky Manifest³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 123| C

14/1

Ended his time with James Ewart with a 21f course maiden win last spring and followed up in 2¾m handicap here for new yard 6 months later. Better form in defeat since but he does need to prove his effectiveness over this much shorter trip.

Form: P-11283

Dedicated Hero^p1²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: A M Thomson| OR: 123| BF| CD

8/1

Course bumper/maiden hurdle winner. Some flat displays over hurdles this season but produced a promising first effort over fences when second in 2m novice at Ayr last month. Unseated at the first at Musselburgh since and now back hurdling in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 5-6782U

Bespoke Tailor^t1⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: G Sheehan| T: O Signy| OR: 120

14/1

Fairly useful bumper winner who has quickly shown similar form when placed on all 4 starts over hurdles, bumping into a promising sort at Newbury (2m, good to soft) last month. Makes handicap debut with a tongue tie also added.

Form: 21-3322

Bertie's Ballet¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 118| BF| CD

16/1

Course bumper winner who was successful in a handicap hurdle at Haydock last winter. Better for reappearance when fourth of 9 over C&D over C&D last month and may come on again.

Form: 2312-74

City Of Diamonds^t1²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 116| D

28/1

Improved again to make a winning handicap debut at Musselburgh in November. Saw off the progressive Star of Guiting on that occasion but hasn't been able to reproduce that level when finishing behind that rival twice since. Needs to resume his progression in a first-time tongue tie.

Form: 512166

Quaviste⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 113| D

9/2

Looked useful when winning a Huntingdon bumper on debut last February. Disappointing favourite on hurdle debut in October but has shown greater promise since, staying on gradually without being knocked about when fifth on last month's Kempton handicap debut. Has bigger performances in him.

Form: 10-8U25

Heart Above⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Peter Kavanagh| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 110| C| D

28/1

Has won twice at this venue, most recently over 21f in November, and bounced back to form when fourth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Musselburgh on New Year's Day. A good Kelso record makes him a tough one to discount.

Form: 412164

Forecasts

Cracking Rhapsody (5/1), Hamlet's Night (11/2), Quaviste (6/1), Hot Fuss (15/2), Spectacularsunrise (10/1), Jet To Vegas (10/1), Dedicated Hero (10/1), Captain Hugo (10/1), Serious Challenge (12/1), Wise Eagle (12/1), Bespoke Tailor (16/1), Lucky Manifest (16/1), Serious Operator (25/1), Laafi (25/1), Bertie's Ballet (50/1), City Of Diamonds (50/1), Heart Above (66/1)

This looks a good renewal. QUAVISTE caught the eye on his Kempton handicap debut and Dan Skelton's 6-y-o may be able to deny Cracking Rhapsody a third successive win in this. Serious Challenge and the likeable Hot Fuss are a few of many others who could play a prominent role.